Former Hopkinton man in court for owing $500K in child support

Monday

Dec 31, 2007 at 12:01 AMDec 31, 2007 at 9:33 PM

A former Hopkinton man who appeared on the Department of Revenue's Ten Most Wanted list was held on $500,000 bail after his arraignment in Milford District Court Monday on charges that he has not paid nearly that amount in child support, interest and penalties.

Paul Crocetti

A former Hopkinton man who appeared on the Department of Revenue's Ten Most Wanted list was held on $500,000 bail after his arraignment in Milford District Court Monday on charges that he has not paid nearly that amount in child support, interest and penalties.

Judge Robert B. Calagione set bail at $500,000 for David Fisher, who was recently deported from Canada, where he fled about six years ago.

The court entered a plea of not guilty on Fisher's behalf on charges of abandoning children without support, leaving the community without supporting children and failure to comply with a support order.

Colleen E. Cunnally, representing the Department of Revenue, asked for a bail of $494,795.58, the amount the state says Fisher owes in child support, interest and penalties.

During the proceedings of his divorce from Ann Fisher, who lives in Upton, David Fisher agreed to pay $883 per week in child support for their three children, Cunnally said.

Fisher, 48, could face up to 10 years in jail, Cunnally said.

``This is a man who was able to pay,'' she said. ``We want to send a message - if you don't pay child support, you will go to jail.''

Sean Holland, who represented Fisher Monday, requested bail be set at $5,000, citing a lack of a criminal past.

David and Ann Fisher married in 1980 and were divorced in 2001.

David Fisher agreed Jan. 28, 2000 to pay the child support for his children, who were 10, 16 and 17 years old at the time, according to the Department of Revenue. Fisher was a computer programmer who made $2,700 per week, Cunnally said.

Fisher did not show up to his final divorce hearing in May 2001, Cunnally said.

The Department of Revenue received the last child support payment from Fisher's employer in 2001, Cunnally said.

Fisher's face was included on the state's ``Ten Most Wanted'' poster Nov. 14, 2002.

On Sep. 23, 2003, the state discovered he was in Canada, where he worked at a restaurant in Toronto, Cunnally said.

He had also worked for a time at a diamond company in Missouri, she said.

The Department of Revenue requested assistance from Canadian authorities in apprehending Fisher.

Fisher did not appear at a Canada court hearing April 10, 2006 for contempt charges for non-payment of child support, according to the Department of Revenue. As a result, a warrant was issued for his arrest.

He was deported to the United States Dec. 11, 2007 after being jailed for charges of non-payment of child support.

Fisher was deported over a question of whether he should be working in Canada, Holland said.

Fisher is married to a Canadian citizen, Cunnally said, adding that she does not believe they have children.

Fisher owes about $314,000 in child support, $120,000 in interest and $59,000 in penalties, Cunnally said.
``It certainly is an exceptionally high amount,'' said Robert R. Bliss, director of communications for the Department of Revenue.

Fisher, who has grown a beard and was dressed Monday in a blue sweatshirt and jeans, requested a court-appointed lawyer for the case.

Ann Fisher, who could not be reached for comment, was not at court Monday.

Her children also did not make it to the proceedings.

Ann Fisher moved to a smaller home in Upton, an effect of the non-payments, Cunnally said.

The Department of Revenue has been in contact with the family, Bliss said.

``It's up to them, the extent they want to make themselves available,'' he said.

David Fisher is being held at the Worcester County House of Corrections. He is due back in court Jan. 28.